For the second straight year, the Wizards will pick third in the NBA draft, just hoping that their best-laid plans don’t go astray. Last year, they weathered some tense moments before choosing Bradley Beal with the No. 3 pick, as Charlotte—picking second—passed on trade offers and went with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Now the Wizards’ target appears to be Georgetown small forward Otto Porter. But before the Wiz get their crack at him, they have to cope with the stress of wondering whether Cleveland will take him with the No. 1 pick, or Orlando at No. 2. It’s been rumored that Porter is a possibility for the Cavs, who need a small forward, with the first choice.

This is a big stage for Porter, who hails from the small town of Haywood City, Missouri, with a population of 206. And yet, Porter says that small town helped get him where he is today. While most of his peers spent their summers playing AAU ball in front of college scouts and high-profile coaches, Porter was … lumberjacking? Yeah. Read on:

TALKING WITH … Georgetown forward Otto Porter

On how he was able to move to the top of NBA draft boards this year: “Everything really clicked with our team this year and I think that helped in terms of getting exposure and things like that. I tried to do my best to fit in with the team and that sort of allowed me the freedom to play my game—in coach (John) Thompson’s system, that’s something I was allowed to do. So everything came together and I think scouts started watching me more and more.”

On Georgetown’s first-round loss in the NCAA tournament: “That was a really big disappointment for me. Obviously, we didn’t play our best game in our last game and that was hard. But coming from that, I wanted to learn from my mistakes and find a way to get better.”

On the possibility of joining the Wizards: “To play with John Wall and Brad Beal, it’s close to home, it’s in D.C., there is a fan base there already. It’s not far from Georgetown. That connection is there. To play where I played at, at Georgetown, that would be great.”

On his unusual workouts at home in high school: “Summers, I’d start, waking up early mornings, getting my exercise in, running, ride my bike for a couple hours. Then, helping around the house with (chopping) wood and different things that built up my strength, just naturally built up my strength. Then in the afternoon I’d go to the gym for about four or five hours, and I’d be there all night, putting up shots, working on ball-handling, working on my jump shot and things like that. That was every day in the summer. Now, I think that hard work pays off. You finally get the benefit of all the work you put in, all the nights and hours that you put into your game. It’s finally rewarded.”

STOCK WATCH

Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

Carter-Williams is not likely to fall out of the lottery, but like much of this draft, he is tough to place. The Pelicans would like to take a point guard at No. 6, but they’re looking more at Trey Burke. That would make the highest likely landing spot for Carter-Williams No. 8, where the Pistons could be thinking backcourt, too. But if the Pistons pass, teams with picks No. 9-12 already have star-quality point guards. Dallas is possible, but the Mavs will likely trade the 13th pick—possibly to a team that wants Carter-Williams. If not, the Jazz could luck into an excellent prospect, a 6-6 playmaker.

“Me being the biggest guard helps me out a lot,” Carter-Williams said. “I can defend well, I can see over littler guards, and also rebounding the basketball. I had to play my role at Syracuse, I had to get people involved—there were not too many playmakers on my team. I had players who did other things great, so I had to be the playmaker. At the next level, there are more playmakers, so I will be able to play my game.”

THREE THINGS WORTH KNOWING

• The Timberwolves have, for weeks, made little secret about their desire to trade up in order to pick Victor Oladipo—the team is desperate for a shooting guard, and most scouts feel Oladipo is as NBA-ready as anyone in the draft. Minnesota is reportedly offering former No. 2 pick Derrick Williams, plus the No. 9 and No. 26 picks, but the Timberwolves have yet to find a taker. Oladipo could go as high as No. 2 to Orlando, and though the Magic would like to parlay that pick into multiple assets, they have not bitten on the Wolves offer.

• The Warriors’ efforts to pilfer a late first-round pick could yet pay off. One source said, “at least five teams” with draft picks in the 20s are willing to move them for either a future pick or second-rounders.

• The Hawks had guard Jamaal Franklin in for a second look this week, and one scouting director said Franklin could wind up being a steal. Franklin hurt his ankle and was unable to work out for teams ahead of the draft, but the scouting director said, “In this draft, he is probably a late-lottery talent who could go in the early 20s.” Franklin’s range is believed to extend from the Bucks at No. 15 to the Clippers at No. 25, though the Bulls are very interested at No. 20.